Inspirational teen nominated for award Wheelchai r hero shore is a wonder
Volunteer raises £8k for charity in 1700-mile isles coastline challenge
Heather Greenaway Wheelchair warrior Brynn Hauxwell has pushed himself 1679 miles – the equivalent of the length of Shetland’s rugged coastline – as a thank you to those who have helped him.
The determined 15-year-old who has a range of debilitating mobility issues took eight months to complete the gruelling challenge and raised more than £ 8000 for Ability Shetland.
Brynn’s mammoth achievement has now earned him a Sunday Mail Young Scot Award nomination in the Unsung Hero category.
The teenager, who has autism, ADHD and fixed ankle contractures (a condition of the joints or tendons which restricts movement) which means he needs a wheelchair to get around, set himself the task to raise funds for the disability charity that has supported him and his family.
Brynn, who lives on Yell with his mum Kim, 40, and sister Faith, 11, originally planned to complete the Hadrian’s Wall cycle route by on a mission Brynn Hauxwell wheelchai r. But due to the coronavirus lockdown restrictions and his need to shield due to severe asthma, he decided to set himself an alternative challenge instead.
Brynn’s mum Kim said: “We had to think of what we could achieve if we were unable to go past our garden gate.
“We ordered Brynn an Invictus Active Trainer, which is like a manual treadmill on rollers to keep him active during lockdown. Brynn’s initial idea was to push himself the length of Shetland but
he realised that it wouldn’t take him too long to complete and wanted to do something that would last throughout lockdown. So he decided he wanted to push himself virtually the full 1679 miles of Shetland’s coastline.
“In June, after 98 days of shielding and doing 460 miles indoors, he was able to leave the garden and spent the next few months racking up the miles out and about locally.
“He started the challenge on April 8 and finished on December 13. He did it all for Ability Shetland, an organisation which is close to his heart. The charity supports people al l over Shetland, including providing children’s clubs, sports clubs, boat trips and the use of adapted equipment for locals and visitors to use to explore what Shetland has to offer.
“In 2019 Brynn was able to try one of their all- terrain trikes, which changed not only his life but the whole family’s too as we were able to access so many parts of Shetland that many people take for granted – walking the hills, going along the beach or just getting around the local community.
“Brynn also volunteers with the charity, helping at their clubs, and has clocked up 900 hours. He is a very determined young man and we are all very proud of him.”
Brynn said: “I am happy to be nominated for a Young Scot Award. I have lots of other challenges in my head, including learning to paddle board and pushing myself across the Netherlands to Belgium in my wheelchair.”
Our award winners wi l l be announced at a virtual ceremony on April 22.